An Energy Skills Passport recognizing expertise in the energy industry

Energy industry leaders have agreed on a roadmap for a prototype ‘Energy Skills Passport’ that would enable cross-sector recognition of energy expertise and training.

Delivering on the commitments set out in both the North Sea Transition Agreement and the Offshore Wind Sector Agreement between industry and the UK Government, the Skills Passport aims to show workers how employers can recognize skills and qualifications across a range of sectors such as oil and gas and offshore wind energy.

This would make it easier for workers to navigate the energy mix, preserving and growing the UK’s home energy industry and accelerating the energy transition.

Oil and gas production in the UK is falling by around 12% a year. Research commissioned by Offshore Energies UK found that 90% of oil and gas workers have skills that can be transferred to new offshore jobs in the renewable energy industry.

Energy industry leaders are eager to recruit workers in the UK with the right skills across a range of sectors, creating a need for a framework to recognize specialist knowledge.

A panel of Offshore Energies UK, RenewableUK, OPITO, the Global Wind Organization and representatives from employers in the oil and gas and offshore wind sectors, as well as government, trade unions and trade and skills bodies, contributed expertise to the skills passport project.

The Integrated People and Skills Strategy, developed by energy skills organization OPITO on behalf of the UK oil and gas sector, estimates that the total number of jobs in the energy production sector will reach 211,000 by 2030. It is suggested that the passport could be adapted to other sectors.

According to Renewable UK, the UK offshore wind industry already employs 32,000 workers, with this number set to increase to 100,000 by 2030, and the UK oil and gas sector currently employs thousands of skilled workers.

Filling the skills gap in the industry

The Energy Skills Passport project focuses on aligning technical qualifications and mapping safety standards, creating career paths for relevant positions and creating a mechanism for employers and employees to understand recognized standards.

So far, the project has produced career path information for over thirty positions in the oil and gas sector and entry routes into the wind industry. User testing of the new mechanism is scheduled for summer and fall before the final version is made available for free later this year.

RenewableUK’s executive director of offshore wind, Jane Cooper, said: “We are firmly committed to facilitating the transition of workers from different parts of the energy sector to renewables. Offshore wind companies need to attract oil and gas workers to our sector with valuable experience and skills that can be leveraged in the future.

“We will continue to work with many partners and collaborators from other organizations to achieve this, enabling highly skilled workers to find new career opportunities in the clean energy transition.”

Scottish Government Climate Action Minister Gillian Martin added: “I welcome the industry’s progress in developing an Offshore Skills Passport for Scottish oil and gas workers.

“Our valued and highly skilled marine energy workforce play a key role in the transition to renewables and the Passport will play an important role in supporting this process. We call on industry partners to further develop and rapidly implement this initiative.”

Separately, E.ON has joined Engineering UK’s network of corporate members to ensure young people are inspired to pursue a career in engineering and technology. National Grid is also a corporate member of the association.

Lately, Current from National Grid’s supply chain partners on the Great Grid Upgrade project heard how the program will take an alternative approach to the UK’s supply chain and skills issues, bringing together National Grid’s partners to work together. Read more about the Great Grid Partnership here.